‘Tis the growing season when seafood get wary.
They’re breeding in certain southern states and can be also within the postspawn mode on others. Up north, the ice is departing and bass are beginning to nose around within the shallows.
In many of these situations, the seafood are extremely conscious of their surroundings and fishermen have to step-up their stealth tactics. You need to think just like a hunter and set the advantage.
No matter whether you’re fishing obvious or stained water, limit the sounds you are making, the oscillations you develop and also the shadows you cast within the water.
The trolling motor will help you to sneak on seafood, but only when you're doing so very carefully. I run my motor in a slow speed and steer clear of turning it on / off. Sudden changes create underwater power that may spook a bass.
I additionally start the growing season with a brand new trolling motor prop. A worn prop can trash it of balance. Just a little filing on rough edges can deal with that. Also, make certain no fishing lines are trapped around the shaft that may create oscillations, too.
Tighten all knobs and screws around the bracket to lessen any unnecessary noise or movement. Set the shaft in a height in which the prop isn’t banging bottom or churning at first glance. Otherwise, bass will hear you originating from several ft away.
I can’t stress enough how valuable Energy-Rods are in this kind of fishing. I love to make use of the wind whenever possible, moving a couple of ft before shedding the rods for any couple of minutes as i scan the shallows. That reduces noise and allows you to obtain a good close look at what’s ahead.
I keep your sun inside my back as well as in the fishes’ eyes whatsoever occasions, but particularly in obvious water. If your bass sees you before you decide to see him, likelihood of getting him to strike will disappear.
Fishing shades are another must. I carry a number of different Oakley lens colors to support a number of light and water conditions. Oakley’s “shallow blue” is a great all-round color for seeing seafood, but any light amber base lens is preferable to dark eco-friendly or smoke. My personal favorite frames would be the “Bat Wolf” model that cover my face and peripheral light out.
Hats with brims and hoodies also help stop the side light which hampers how well you see. Remember, you rarely begin to see the entire seafood you have to have the ability to identify a fish’s fin, tail or perhaps eyeball in addition to any brown spots or scattered cover that may hold a bass.
Choose your clothing carefully, too. Avoid vibrant colors and stay with drab t shirts, jackets and hats that match the setting. Avoid sudden actions within the boat and as low of the profile as possible.
Also, if you notice skittish seafood cruising the financial institution, try casting natural-searching finesse baits well in front of the seafood and allow the lure sit. Don’t move it before the seafood approaches and just shake the bait slightly. Lower your line size whenever possible and employ fluorocarbon line anytime you’re fishing obvious, shallow water.
That’s a tactic I did previously win at Cruz Mountain Lake a couple of years back. Some bass were breeding yet others just beginning to maneuver up. I put singleOr16-ounce Shaky Mind having a Strike King 3x Finesse earthworm and allow it to sit motionless until I figured the bass were in visual selection of the bait. After I did move it, all Used to do was jiggle the earthworm slightly and they’d eat it.
If your bass is sitting stationary, cast from it therefore the splash doesn’t draw attention away from the seafood. Gradually slowly move the bait within six to eight ft after which lightly ease it into his zone.
Not every the wary seafood the thing is will to bite, but when you utilize the correct stealth tactics, you’ll catch those that will.
Remember, it’s by pointing out attitude!
Kevin VanDam's column seems weekly on Bassmaster.com. There are also him on Facebook and Twitter.
